USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Hyde Park > Memorial sketch of Hyde Park, Mass., for the first twenty years of its corporate existence : also its industries, statistics, and organizations, together with the anniversary addresses delivered by Rev. Perley B. Davis and Rev. Richard J. Barry > Part 8
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Independent Cadets of Temperance, Star of Hope Section, No. 1 .- Organized March 27, - 1884. First officers - R. C. Habberley, W. P .; Miss H. A. Perry, D. W. P .; G. F. Eldridge, P. W. C .; Alfred Mackrille, C. C .; Lillie Hatch, A. C. C .; G. W. Hodges, Sec. ; Millie Sturtevant, A. S .; Minnie Darling, Treas., C. Nichols, A. T. ; A. W. Chamberlain, Chap. ; Louise Ryan, U .; C. Balkam, G. ; H. Holtham, W .; Wm. C. Habberley, A. W. Present officeis - R. C. Habberley, W. P .; Miss H. A. Perry, D. W. P .; W. Edwards, P. C. C .; John Neilson, C. C. ; Nettie Farnsworth, A. C. C .; E. Slocomb, Sec .; Hattie Williams, A. Sec. ; Geo. Church, Treas. ; Katie Ford, A. Treas. ; Bert Savage, G .; Geo. Barritt, U. ; Fred Jenkins, W .; Geo. Raynes, A. W .; L. W. Parkhurst, Chap. Number of mem- bers at organization, 32 ; present membership, 65. This organization is the suc- cessor of the Star of Hope Temperance Society, organized March 14, 1881, with the following officers : R. C. Habberley, Pres .; Bernard Lane, V .- Pres .; John Lane, Treas. ; Lillie Sweetser, Sec .; A. N. Habberley, U. Membership at organization, 8 ; final membership, 97.
Pearl Section, No. I, Cadets of Honor .- Organized Oct. 20, 1884. First officers - D. F. Wood, W. A .; Maggie I. Parker, W. V. A .; Mary V. Habberley, P. W. A .; Wm. M. Cannon, W. R. S .; Geo. M. Butler, W. A. S .; Lizzie E. Richardson, W. T .; Geo. W. Hodges, W. F S .; Robert C. Habberley, W. C .; John J. Clingen, W. G. ; Louise E. Ramseyer, W. U .; Henry F. Holtham, W. W .; L. Edward Bailey, W. S .; Charles Balkam, R. H. S .; Lena Foster, L. H. S. Present officers - Frank R. Heustis, W. A .; L. Gertrude Reynolds, W. V. A .; Geo. C. Towle, P. W. A .; Josie E. Thompson, W. R. S .; Frank E. Bridgeman, W. A. S. ; John W. Towle, W. T. ; Lizzie Balkam, W. F. S .; Daniel S. Taylor, W. C .; Arthur Ramseyer. W. G .; William Norris, W. U .; Charles Fenn, W. W .; Eldon W. Joubert, W. S .; Carrie I. Hibbard, R. H. S .; Geo. Fiske, L. H. S. Past presiding officers - D. F. Wood, George F. Eldridge, John J. Clingen, George C. Towle. Number of members at organization, 21 ; present member- ship, 64.
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
Weld Circle, Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. Organized Sept. 20, 1880. First officers - Henry F. Howard, Pres. ; Chas. S. Norris, Sec. Present officers - J. P. Higgins, Pres. ; Mrs. H. F. Howard, V .- Pres .; Mrs. J. L. Doty, Sec. Past Presidents - H. F. Howard, Dr. J. K. Knight, Chas. A. House, Chas. S. Norris. Number of members at organization, 21; present membership, 20. These figures do not give a correct idea of the number who have come under the influence of the Circle. A very large number have been connected with it during the eight years. The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle was organized in 1878 by Dr. J. H. Vincent, who not only had the weight and wisdom to devise great things, but also to realize them. Chautauqua says, Christianity must not be afraid of culture. A Christless culture and a cultureless Christianity are alike to be feared ; they must be wedded. Like the statue in New York harbor with the torch in her hand, lighting the mariner at sea, so culture must light her wick from the Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and sends its illuminating beams world wide Each year finds new members entering the list for the four years' course, and thus the local circle has kept up its interest and
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influence. Our meetings are open to all who, with us, desire to fill up their time with duty to God and man, and strive for a record
" Which shall leave no sting in the heart of memory, No stain on the wing of time."
Thought Club .- Organized Feb. 14, 1882. First officers - Mrs. R. Dempsey, Pres. ; Mrs. Porter, V .- Pres. ; Miss Elizabeth Emerson, Sec. Present officers - Miss M. Pratt, Pres. ; Mrs. Mason, V .- Pres. ; Miss Ella Cobb, Sec. and Treas. Number of members at organization, 15; present membership, 30 (limited). The club is essentially literary.
Wentworth Club .- Organized June 10, 1884. Officers - Mrs. J. Wentworth Payson, Pres. ; Theodore D. Weld, Gen. H. B. Carrington, Chas. E. Hurd, Advisory Committee. Number of members, 50 subscribers. This club is the out- growth of Mrs. J. Wentworth Payson's literary evenings given at her home, 136 Fairmount Avenue. The first of these took place June 10, 1884, when Theodore D. Weld read a paper on Milton's "Paradise Lost." From the inception of these evenings, Mrs. Payson has designed to form a salon for the literati, artists, and leading citizens of Hyde Park. Distinguished people from different parts of the country and from abroad have been present at these gatherings. A high intellec- tual tone has prevailed and men of fine talent have contributed. Among notable salons have been the " Whittier Evening," given before the Thought Club Dec. 4, ISS4, and the " Evening with Wordsworth," given by Dr. Henry N. Hudson, the Shakespearian editor, Aug. 10, 1883.
Young Men's Lyceum .- Organized April 7, 1883. First officers - Frank B. Rich, Pres .; Henry White, Sec. Successive Presidents -Chas. F. Jenny, John Scott, John K. Wightman, Alex. Millar, Galen L. Stone, Warren F. McIntire, Augustus N. Doe. Number of members at organization, 20; with a subse- quent membership of 41. Organized for the "improvement of its members by the acquisition of greater proficiency in debate, and the proper command of the English language." In the early part of 1884 two public debates with the Webster Union of East Dedham were held, and Sept. 25, 1884, a very interesting public discussion on the merits of the various presidential candidates was held in G. A. R. Hall.
Shakespeare Club .- Organized Oct., 1885. First officers-E. S. Paine, Pres .; Dr. E. H. Baxter, V .- Pres. ; Miss H. E. Tower, Sec. The organization has now passed into the hands of a special teacher, and has no other officers. Number of members at organization, 14; present membership, 30.
Grattan Literary Institute .- Organized April 3, 18SS. Officers-M. F. Moylan, Pres ; Jas. S. Coveney, V .- Pres. ; P. H. Rooney, Sec. ; Edward McKenna, Treas. ; T. II. Brown, Wm. Brady, Thomas Mulcahey, D. Lucy, Dir. Membership, 36. Organized after the model of the Y. M. C. A., for literary and social purposes. Intend to secure quarters, and open reading-room and library.
High School Alumni Association. - Organized July 6, 1874. First officers - Geo. W. Rollins, Pres .; Lizzie D. Bunker, Sec. and Treas. Present officers - Wm. II. Sanger, Pres .; Wm. Hall, V .- Pres .; Laura Jenkins, Sec .; Annie H. Miller, Treas. Past Presidents - Geo W. Rollins, Harry R. Chamberlain, Henry White, P. Fox. Number of members at organization, 12; present membership, 136.
Fairmount School Alumni Association .- Organized Nov. 7, 1878. First officers - M. W. Mitchell, Pres. ; E. Roberts, Jr., Lillie Booth, V .- Pres. ; H. E Tower, Sec .; Marion S. Piper, Treas. Present officers - II. C. Mandell, Pres. ; E. W. Sawyer, V. Pres. ; Grace F. Eustis, Sec. and Treas. Past Presidents - M. W. Mitchell, E. Roberts, Jr., Samuel E. Ward, H. C. Mandell, G. F. Hammond, F. B. Rich, F. E. Blackmer. Present membership, 100.
MUSICAL SOCIETIES.
Hyde Park and Fairmount Choral Society. - Organized 1858. First officers - Prof. A. J. Robinson, Pres .; Wm. F. Cary, Sec. and Treas .; Wm. A. Blazo, Wm. Rogers, Esq., and I. L. Benton, Board of Managers. This society was organized in the fall of 1858. I. L. Benton, conductor. Constitution and
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by-laws were adopted to govern the society. They prospered beyond expecta- tion, gave six public rehearsals each year, to the delight of the village in- habitants, from whom they obtained quite a sum of money and purchased a respectable library of music. They gave one concert, the proceeds of which went to purchase shade trees that are standing up and down Fairmount Avenue and other localities of the village to this day. On Washington's Birthday, the 22d day of February, 1866, they dedicated the new Music Hall, then standing on the corner of Hyde Park Avenue and River Street, with a grand concert, which stood the criticism of one of Boston's best musical critics, and was by him pronounced as a very fine performance. This society was flourishing at the time of the organization of the town, and had on its membership roll the names of many of our prominent citizens.
Hyde Park Chorus Club .- Organized Dec. 21, 1871, and continued for four sea- sons. First officers-Solomon Hovey, Pres .; T. C. Evans, V .- Pres .; Geo. B. War- ren, Sec. and Treas .; Edwin Tilden, Cond. Last officers - A. H. Brainard, Pres .; Geo. B. Warren, Sec. and Treas. Membership the first year, 135. This club was the outgrowth of rehearsals for a concert given in aid of the Public Library. It oc- cupied its first season with rehearsals for the World's Peace Jubilee, held in Boston in June, 1872, being enrolled No. 24 and furnishing over one hundred voices for the grand chorus. During the three following seasons, it gave several concerts of a high order, being well qualified therefor by the previous training. In Dec., 1874, it was decided to discontinue further meetings, and a few years later, it bequeathed all its musical property to the Choral Society.
Choral Society .- Organized Oct. 9, 1879. First officers -Thos. Chamberlain, Pres .; A. H. Brainard, E. S. Hathaway, V .- Pres .; R. M. Johnson, Sec .; T. C. Evans, Geo. B. Warren, Austin B. French, Dir .; J. W. French, Lib. Last officers -E. S. Hathaway, Pres. ; T. C. Evans, E. C. Farwell, V .- Pres .; A. E. Bradley, Sec. ; Mrs. K. A. Paine, W. H. Harlow, Jas. S. Mitchell, Dir .; F. L. Johnson, Lib. Pres- idents - Thos. Chamberlain, R. M. Johnson, G. H. Moulton, E. S. Hathaway. Was in active service until 1883.
Anniversary Chorus. Committee on Twentieth Anniversary-H. J. Whittemore, Ch. ; C. E. Huggins, Sec. ; E. L. Jennings, W. H. Harlow, J. F. Loughlin, C. F. Holt, G. L. Ridley. A chorus of 100 voices was organized, H. J. Whittemore, conductor, and Miss M. E. Whittemore, accompanist, which with the orchestra rendered the Hallelujah Chorus, from the oratorio of Messiah, Gloria from Mozart's Twelfth Mass, and other selections. A choir was also formed to sing some of the old time music, which was given with violin and bass viol accompaniment. At one of the churches a select choir of 40 voices, assisted by the quartette of the Con- gregational Church, gave several selections of classical music. For complete list of those participating in the musical exercises, see programme of services.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Fairmount Land Company and Twenty Associates .- Organized Sept. 1, 1855. Alpheus P. Blake, Pres .; John Williams, Treas. Composed of the following gentle- men : Wm. E. Abbott, Amos S. Angell, A. P. Blake, E. E. Blake, Ira L. Benton, John N. Brown, Geo. W. Currier, H. C. Fisk, J. C. French, Wm. E. French, David Higgins, John Hobbs, Sam'l S. Mooney, Wm. H. Nightingale, J. Wentworth Payson, Dwight B. Rich, A. J. Robinson, Wm. H. Seavey, Daniel Warren, and John Wil- liams. From this, in 1859, grew the Real Estate and Building Company, incor- porated in 1861.
Social Science Association .- Organized 1873. First President - Frederic A. Ellis. Last officers - E. I. Humphrey, Pres .; Miss M. E. Libby, Sec .; Dr. J. K. Knight, Treas. This organization had discussions on social questions (in public), and gave a course of lectures in which three of our townsmen, Messrs. C. F. Gerry, O. T. Gray, and E. I. Humphrey were speakers.
Hyde Park Improvement Society. - Organized March 1, 1881. First officers - Rev. P. B. Davis, Pres .; Col. J. B. Bachelder, D. L. Davis, Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., Henry Grew, A. H. Brainard, V .- Pres .; S. G. Macomber, clerk; H. S. Bunton, Treas. Present officers-W. J. Stuart, Pres. ; J. B. Bachelder, V .- Pres .; E. S.
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Hathaway, Sec .; Rob't Bleakie, Treas. Number of members at organization, 21; present membership, 80. Organized to encourage and stimulate all measures look- ing to the improvement of the town. At present in a quiescent state.
Hyde Park Associates .- Organized Jan. 1, 1887. Officers -Frederick N. Tirrell, Pres .; Geo. M. Rice, V .- Pres .; Ellis H. Williams, Treas .; Sidney C. Putnam, C. Fred Allen, Fred A. French, Trustees ; Wilbur H. Powers, Chas. Vose, Oscar W. Whicher, A. G. Worden, Gideon Haskell, Geo. M. Rice, Ex. Com .; Alex. Millar, Jas. F. Mooar, Asa J. Adams, Auditors. Number of members (limited), 42.
Hyde Park Horticultural Society .- Organized May 13, 1884. First officers - W. C. Eustis, Pres. ; D. C. Marr, Ist V .- Pres. ; Mrs. E. W. Allen, 2d V .- Pres. ; Dr. J. K. Knight, Sec., Mrs. B. F. Radford, Treas .; Robert Bleakie, Andrew Washburn, Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., Mrs. A. H. Brainard, and Mrs. G. G. Bailey, Ex. Com. Present officers-W. C. Eustis, Pres. ; Chas. F. Holt, Ist V .- Pres .; Mrs. D. W. Lewis, 2d V .- Pres. ; R. M. Johnson, Sec. ; Mrs. H. S. Bunton, Treas. ; H. W. Killam, B. C. Vose, C. E. Roberts, Mrs. A. H. Brainard, and Mrs. A. E. Swallow, Ex. Com. Number of members at organization, 71 ; present membership, 96.
Historical Society. - Organized March 15, 1887. First officers - Amos H. Brainard, Pres .; Henry Grew, Ist V .- Pres. ; H. B. Humphrey, Rec. Sec. ; C. F. Jenney, Cor. Sec .; Wallace D. Lovell, Treas .; and seven curators. Present officers the same. Number of members at organization, 34 ; present membership, 83. The object of this society is " the promotion of the study of history, with particular reference to that of Hyde Park, the preservation and perpetuation of the memory of persons and events connected with said town, and the collection of objects of historic interest." Although a young organization, the society has already been of great benefit. It has made a start upon an historical library, and the collection of matters of interest relating to the town. It observed the nine- teenth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, and was instrumental in bringing about a general observance of the twentieth anniversary by the people of the town. Admission fee, $2.00 ; annual dues, $1.00; and ladies are eligible to membership upon the payment of $1.00.
Woman Suffrage League .- Organized August, 1887. Officers - Theo. D. Weld, Pres .; Mrs. E. H. Webster, Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart, Mrs. Sarah E. Stone. V .- Pres .; Miss S. E. Swallow, Sec. and Treas. Number of members at organization, 26; present membership, 40.
2. Barta & Co. Boston-
VIEW OF MT. NEPONSET AND FAIRMOUNT FROM SUNNYSIDE. (From a photograph by Dr. J. K. Knight.)
ADDRESS. -
BY REV. PERLEY B. DAVIS.
" This month shall be unto you the beginning of months." Exodus xii. 2.
There come alike to nations, communities, and individuals, events which mark epochs in their history, - crises which, like moulds, shape their future. At such junctures it is well to erect, as least in memory, monuments toward which thought may often turn with profit. In an important sense, such an event occurred to the inhabitants of this community, when, by Legislative Act ratified twenty years ago to-day by the Chief Executive, the people dwelling in contiguous portions of Dedham, Dorchester, and Milton were incorporated into a dis- tinct municipality, and the town of Hyde Park was to carve her own future. To her this month thus became the beginning of months. From the history and associations of the parent towns -three of the most ancient and honorable in the Commonwealth - the new town received a valuable legacy, and thus had in a sense a lineage, which was in itself a proph- ecy of good. A score of years having passed, we are now called upon to furnish a report of our progress.
In complying with the request of your committee to present on this occasion a brief outline of thought, I premise that only in the most general way shall I aim at a review of the past twenty years. This is not designed to be, with any minute- ness, an historical discourse. Statistics and details will doubt- less be presented elsewhere. They will not be attempted here. It is mine merely to point an index finger, and seek a few suggestions which may befit this anniversary hour. Allow me further to premise that in the work before me I must, of course,
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speak from my own point of view. For the opinions I shall offer, no one is responsible but the speaker. I should, how- ever, fail in my understanding of the duty assigned me, as well as be untrue to myself, if I did not state freely my own convictions. No thought I may express will be yours unless you adopt it.
Let us note first, that those called twenty years ago to lay here the foundation of a new town, were summoned to no easy task. People gathered from three townships were to be united into one local government. To these were rapidly added others from numerous towns and cities of this and other states, and from across the sea. Ours was thus a community far from homogeneous. It was not to be expected that their interests, much less their opinions, would flow easily and at once into the same channel. Nowhere more than in the order- ing of town affairs does individuality assert itself. Here every man esteems himself the peer of every other, and is his own sovereign. Those gathered here were no exceptions to this. They were people having ideas, and not afraid to express them. Whatever our young town lacked, it was not wanting in self- reliance. It had the ardor of youth ; there was warm blood in its veins. Some towns in our Commonwealth, older and doubt- less wiser than we, looked on, and with mingled feelings of amusement and dismay, saw our young Samson shake his locks. But though earnest and impetuous, we were not idiotic. We had an end to reach and bent towards it. We had no design of fulfilling Carlyle's definition of a balky horse, - one that is all move, but no go. We did go. Our motion was for- ward. If not always steady, it was at least steadily onward. We are glad to feel that we have lived to receive, and we hope, justly to have earned, confidence and approval from some towns whose words of sympathy were at first not excessive.
Aside from our enthusiasm and determined spirit, - facts in themselves of greater value than material helps - few communi- ties ever entered upon a career of self-support with slenderer appliances than we. With our staff we passed over Jordan.
Within our area was a population of about 4,000. There were about 475 legal voters. There were 460 dwellings. The
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supply of public buildings, located at what had previously been corners of towns, was of the very meagerest sort. The vital fluid is apt not to flow freely to the extremities. Our first town report shows that what is now our High School building (since remodelled) and a small and very antiquated structure at Readville were all belonging to us in the way of schoolhouses .* For the school children now cast upon our care, and rapidly increasing by immigration, accommodations had to be sought in halls, private buildings, soldiers' barracks, and wherever an entrance could be gained. The task was difficult. It was making bricks without straw. Well do I recall those numerous and anxious evening sessions of the School Board, sometimes pro- longed until the return of day, in which the attempt was made to accomplish what seemed impossible.
Our supply of church edifices was no more ample than that of schoolhouses. The Baptist congregation was worshipping in a temporary chapel. The edifice of the Episcopal Church was already erected, and is the only one dating to that period. Other congregations had places of assembling in rooms over markets, stores, and tinshops. For the convenience of the people, the bell on the woolen mill (since burned) was- rung to note the hours of Sabbath worship.
In voting, we went for years, for the election of other than local officers, to the respective towns from which we had been taken. The place for holding our own elections was a non- descript building, which bore the euphonious name of Music Hall. It had already served a miscellaneous use in Boston as an adjunct to the Apollo Garden, and, in pieces, had been brought to this place on wagons. The building has since been removed, but its memory remains .; It was an unique structure, a remarkable combination of the grotesque, ornamental, and inconvenient. Here we held our town meetings, some of which were indeed phenomenal. It is to be doubted if any
*It was afterwards decided that the small, dilapidated, and then unused Butler schoolhouse was also the property of the town. This building was erected in 1804, and must rank among the oldest schoolhouses in the State. The frame still remains unchanged, and with a new and attractive exterior now affords pleasant accommodations for a primary school.
¡ In a quite altered condition, the building now stands on Hyde Park Avenue, near the head of Lincoln Street.
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other town ever quite produced their like. Whether inspired by the attempts at classic frescoes on the wall we may not say ; · certain it is, the oratory was sometimes quite overpowering. No cradle of liberty was ever rocked by more earnest utter- ances.
Of streets, there were in the central portion of the town but five or six which had been formally accepted. Several others now existing had been roughly drawn ; some having for their pavement stumps and roots of trees, and unlighted, afforded at night a precarious passage. Our post office sent away its mail, having the name of the town written on the letters with a pen. We had no fire department, no public library, no board of health, no system of police. It was the day of small things. As a town, we began our climbing at the very bottom of the ladder.
Scarcely had we entered upon our career when most adverse circumstances overtook us. The destructive Boston fire of 1872, followed by the prolonged depression of business, was a severe ordeal. Many thought it would inflict on our new town a paralyzing blow. It did put our hope and courage to a severe, but not breaking test. We were as a ship, as yet unused to sea, called suddenly to buffet a gale. But though strained in every part, our untried craft stood up bravely against the storm, and outrode it. Many individuals suffered severely, and our growth was for a time materially checked. This financial disaster was, however, not without some incidental benefit. Numerous houses were thrown upon the market, many of which were pur- chased by parties who have here made permanent homes, and are among our most valuable citizens. Thus this Red Sea of difficulty did not overwhelm us, and we were spared to sing our song on the other side.
From this brief outlook upon our town, when as an infant it first opened its eyes, we turn to an equally brief survey of it, now a youth of twenty years. The change is marked. Our population is at present but little short of 10,000. Our num- ber of legal voters is about 1,450. The number of dwellings is about 1,550. Our six or seven schoolhouses, with a seating capacity of about 2,000, are an honor to this, as they would be
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to any, town in the Commonwealth. Our schools take a high rank in the state, and our corps of teachers is, much to our regret, often invaded when city or other positions are to be filled. The town has thus far devoted to school purposes the sum of $642,676.93, which is about two-fifths of its entire expenditures. Our seven church edifices are in appearance and appointments not unworthy the sacred name they bear, and the more sacred use they serve, and stand essentially unencum- bered by debt ; while to an unusual degree our various denomi- nations work in harmony side by side, knit by strong bands of fellowship. We have a vigorous Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, whose quiet but efficient work is doing much to elevate our young men in physical, mental, and moral culture. We have an excellent public library of nearly 10,000 volumes, which, although its formation called forth many willing helpers, was largely the achievement of one of our honored citizens* (his name it ought to bear), whose benignant face and silvery locks still gladden us to look upon. We have societies and organiza- tions almost innumerable, for the attainment of social, literary and philanthropic ends, and others for the promotion of finan- cial gains. We have a well-equipped fire department ; a well- matured code of by-laws ; a vigorous board of health, and a system of police whose purpose for efficient service will, we hope, prove as ample as the means placed at their disposal. We have a postal department, whose rapid growth has secured to us an office which is a credit to our place, and inspires us with the hope of the early privilege of free delivery. Greatly to the comfort, and with wise reference to the safety of the town, water, and that of the purest quality, has been brought to our streets, and into our dwellings. Our streets, most of them, are excellent, and are flanked by miles of curbed and graded sidewalk, brick or concrete ; while of late, gleaming in the air, the soft and brilliant radiance of electric lights has, in portions of our town, turned night almost into day. It is also said that, by an attentive listening, the ear of faith - or fancy- can already hear the sound of horse cars rumbling past our
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